Google-owned YouTube is now the leading destination for podcasts in the United States, with 33 percent market share according to Edison Research, and more than one billion consumers worldwide.

A swarm of artificial intelligence "crawlers" is running rampant on the internet, scouring billions of websites for data to feed algorithms at leading tech companies - all without permission or payment, upending the online economy.

US President Donald Trump on Friday rolled back tariffs on more than 200 food products, including such staples as coffee, beef, bananas and orange juice, in the face of growing angst among American consumers about the high cost of groceries.

The Trump administration has been stepping up efforts to convince Americans of the economy's strength as affordability concerns emerged as a key issue in this month's elections for New York City mayor, and the governors of New Jersey and Virginia.

Today’s business and financial environment is becoming increasingly complex, driven by persistent geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and volatile markets.

Stocks and gold paused for breath on Thursday as the US Congress voted to end the longest government shutdown on record, with markets waiting for the resumption of US economic data to gauge the rates outlook.

Equities rose in Asia on Wednesday as the US shutdown nears an end and after fresh jobs data boosted the chances of a third successive Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Asian markets rose Thursday to claw back some of the previous day's hefty losses as investors tracked a bounce on Wall Street sparked by jobs data that soothed worries about the US economy.